March 29
Bible Reading: Luke 19
“Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up on a Sycamore tree the Lord he wanted to see.” Zacchaeus “was seeking to see who Jesus was,” but since he was “small of stature” he sought to gain a better vantage point and “climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him” (Luke 19:3-4).
Zacchaeus was engaged in a noble pursuit. He wanted to see who Jesus was. He had undoubtedly heard the news about Jesus—how He spoke as no man ever spoke and did things that no man had ever done before. But secondhand information could not satisfy the need that he had in his heart to see Jesus. He was a chief tax-collector, despised by the Pharisees (Luke 18:11; 19:7), and feared and avoided by everybody else. He had riches and power, but they came at a cost. His prosperity was ill-gotten (Luke 19:8). He was a lost and lonely man.
Jesus, the “friend of sinners” came to save people like Zacchaeus (Luke 19:10) — lost and lonely sinners weighed down by heavy burdens; people dissatisfied in the vanity which is life without God. Jesus came looking for sinners. Zacchaeus climbed a tree looking for the sinner’s friend. It was a divinely orchestrated meeting which ended in a joyous result (Luke 19:6-10).
Zacchaeus’ endeavor was met with obstacles. He was small of stature. Jesus was surrounded by a crowd. But faith finds a way when there isn’t any apparent. He climbed a tree. Certainly out-of-character for a chief tax collector. One can imagine what others must have thought! But by faith, he was undeterred. Don’t suppose that Jesus can be seen apart from effort. There is the need to gain a better vantage point if we are to behold Him. In sin, we are small of stature, falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The Spirit alone can work to open our eyes to our lowly place and lift us up to see the glory of the Savior (John 16:8,14; 2 Corinthians 4:6).
Zacchaeus’ faith was richly rewarded. Jesus saw him in the tree and called on him to come down. Jesus was to be Zacchaeus’ guest! The Pharisees saw what happened and grumbled, “He has gone in to be a guest of a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7). Oh, happy day when a sinner receives Jesus (John 1:12)! There can be no more loving friend than He! He is a forever and faithful companion to those who trust in Him (Hebrews 13:5).
Zacchaeus “was seeking to see who Jesus was,” and we should joyfully follow in his steps. Men have labored through many an obstacle and hardship to behold lesser things. History tells of men who have crisscrossed the earth and even ventured forth into space. But no sight in God’s creation can compare with beholding the glory of the One who created all things! By a work of the Spirit believing eyes are opened to the glory of Jesus, but only by way of introduction (2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 13:12). By an ongoing work of the Spirit, greater clarity of vision is attained (2 Corinthians 3:18). The time is coming when His own will “see him as he is” (1 John 3:2), “when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:10). What a glorious day that will be!
John Owen once wrote, “The beholding of the glory of Christ is one of the greatest privileges and advancements that believers are capable of in this world, or in that which is to come. By this they are first gradually conformed to it and then fixed in eternal enjoyment of it… this is the life and reward of our souls” (John Owen, “The Glory of Christ). The glory of Jesus will be a sight to behold!
Short Zacchaeus went to great lengths to behold Jesus! We do well to set our hearts on a similar course, in eager anticipation of the day when we shall see Him face to face!
Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ who died for me?
Face to face shall I behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!
LookingtoJesus 